Other factors count — including, of course, a student’s ACT and SAT scores — but the body of work that a student has developed in high school is what matters most when college admissions counselors begin looking at a student’s admissions packet.
Colleges do not choose students by the numbers only—they don’t simply take the students with the highest grades and test scores. Colleges use many other factors to add depth to the numbers, and to compare applicants with each other to build a class that fits the college’s mission.
Students who meet or exceed the threshold for admission are, at selective colleges, evaluated based on all of the attributes they bring to campus, including special talents, academic interests, and personal characteristics.
What does this mean for your student? Being well-rounded is a key! Good test scores are important, as are good grades and the recommendations of teachers and counselors. College counselors are looking to build a vibrant, interesting and diverse campus community — finding a way to key into that desire (and presenting one’s self in the best possible light) can often be the key to an acceptance letter from a student’s college of choice.
Additional Factors |
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While colleges, on average, pay attention to the same types of factors, some colleges pay more attention to some factors than others. |
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College Size |
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Grades and GPAs |
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Class Rank
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Essays |
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Other Factors that Colleges May Consider |
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Homeschooled Students |
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